Can I run E-30 for fuel in a standard gasoline vehicle? If so, how much would this save on fuel mileage?

Question

We've all heard of E85, 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline. Some states currently run E10, most recently California. Minnesota passed an E20 mandate but has yet to get the ok from the EPA. I've heard a person gets the best mileage with E30. If so, why not mandate E30 eventually? If I were to pump 20 total gallons into my fuel tank, 13 gal. gasoline & 7 gal. E85 to make E30, adjusting the equation in states currently blending ethanol, how would that effect my vehicle mileage, engine mechanics, and performance? Is the EPA testing for E20 and E30?

Answer 1

More ethanol in gasoline will reduce your mileage, and increase performance slightly.   It will generally only affect the mechanics if your car can't compensate for the leaner fuel mixture or the fuel system isn't resistant to ethanol.

At the local drag strip, e-85 is replacing high octane racing fuel in many of the cars & it appears to be equal in performance at a much lower cost.

The local circle dirt tracks have banned e85 outright.  Their reasoning is that it gives some racers an unfair advantage over cars burning 102 octane racing gas.  (but then the tracks all sell racing gas for a little over $6.00 a gallon)

Answer 2

No, because thats the whole reason they make 'hybrid' cars. They have special engines that know how to burn that kind of fuel. The gas companies make that combo because thats what can burn in standard cars. Anything else would have to have a different engine. As for different states, not only are their laws different, but fuel might burn different ways in different climates (temperatures).

When I'm old enough to get a car, I'm going to get a vw 'hippie van' or an el camino. Although they have old engines, I will save up money to get an ethenol engine to replace it.

Answer 3

Any amount of E-xx will not increase mileage as u get less BTU per gallon than just regular gasoline. The  ethanol is very good to clean out your fuel system.

Answer 4

Actually, ethanol has fewer btu's per unit than gasoline. It doesn't give better mileage,  just cheaper fuel and less previously-sequestered CO2 injected into the atmosphere.

Answer 5

Thanks again for demonstrating little most people know about ethanol.  It costs about 5% less and you burn 20-25% more, so where is the savings?  You likely burn MORE gas using that product increasing the demand for oil.  Especially E-85, it's 15% ethanol and you burn 20% more, so you actually use MORE petroleum instead of less, do the math.

Ethanol also costs more to produce than the energy it releases..

DON'T read Bob's post below, it's full of bad information.

Top Fuel Cars both Dragster and Funny Cars run on nitromethane, NOT E85.  E85 is garbage.  Even the NHRA cars don't run on that, they run pure, or as close to pure ethanol as you can get.  Same with INDY etc.

Nitromethane also cost about 10X more than E85 per gallon.

I don't know of a single form of racing that uses E85.

Man people here are ignorant of the facts.  No wonder Mr. Gore has no problems burning through $2-$3K a month in utility bills while convincing you dopes to buy carbon offsets, that make him millions!!!

Ethanol is a WASTE!  You can't run it pure in any car off the assembly line.  It costs too much to produce and it's NOT efficient.  

So what's the benefit to it?

Answer 6

No, because higher percentages of ethanol could cause rust in the gasoline systems as well as degrade gaskets that weren't meant to be run with alcohol.

10% they say doesn't have an effect on all those parts but they aren't willing to guarantee that a higher percentage will not have an effect.

And the drop in gas mileage is about 3% for every 10 behind the E.

E10--(3% drop in fuel mileage)

E85--(25% drop in fuel mileage)

And E100 is impossible, you'll get a couple percent water.

Answer 7

no you can not run E30 in a standard gasoling engine. E85 is also known as racing feul in top feul funny cars and top feul dragster in the NHRA. These engines have such a high compression rate that if they were to use standard gasoline as feul it would be unstable to use and would probably blow every one up when they turned over the engine. And the cost alone wiould drive every one bankrupt after the first race.

Answer 8

I have been runing E30 in my non-flex fuel Ford Focus for 2 years with no issues.  I usually pump about 6-7 gallons of gas in it and then 3-4 gallons of E85.  It runs great on it.  You'll accelerate better and your engine will stay cooler.  In addition you'll be using 30% less foreign oil.